Orthodontic appliance



Aug. 20, 1935; .1. w. FORD ORTHODONTIC APPLiANcE Filed Jan. 28, 1933 Patented Aug. 20, 1935 Application January 28, 1933, Serial No.-653,944 10 Claims. (o1. 32-,14)

In appliances now employed for practicing orthodontia very considerable difiiculty' is experienced in effecting connection between the archbar and the tooth bands. This is due to the limitations of the space in which the operator mustwork, in addition to which the relatively small size of the parts to be manipulated contributes in no small measure to the difficulty or making the required adjustments during progress of the treatment.

The present invention aims to provide an appliance which will overcome the objectionsnoted. It affords an appliance whereby the arch-bar may be attached to and detached from a tooth band'with the greatest ease compared with those appliances now available, and with the expenditure of but a minimum amount of time. Moreover, it also permits of ready accessibility to the operative parts for their manipulation, and enables the operator to efiect his adjustments without discomfort or inconvenience to the patient, and also with the greatest freedom of action by the operator. I

Other objects and advantages-will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrange: ment of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

The form of the invention herein shown and. described-is believed to be a preferredembodiment thereof} It will be understood, however, that the same is susceptibleof changes, modifications and variations in the 'accomplishment of its purpose, so-that the fform'disclose'd is to'be considered from an illustrative standpoint, rather than imposing limitation or restriction on the invention.

In'the drawing,

Fig. l 'is a conventional perspective view illustrating the hereindescribed appliance in its 'application to the teeth;

Fig; Zis a similar view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of the appliance in its open posit-ion,'and the separated arch-bar ready for introduction to the appliance; v

'Fig'. '3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the appliance being shown in closed position, with the arch-bar introduced thereto and held thereby;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 44, Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the appliance, showing the same in closed position as it appears Fig. 6 is a further perspective view of the appliance having associated therewith 'a wrench designed particularly for application to the appliance for its manipulation, the Wrench and the appliance being shown on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the wrench shown iragmentarily in Fig. 6. v 5 Referring in detail to the accompanying drawing, the numeral l0 designates an arch-bar commonly employed in practicing orthodontia. In thepresent instancaand' as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the bar it is shown as preferably oblong in cross-section. But bars having any other cross-sectional shape may be used.

The numeral ll designates a tooth band of the usual form and construction as employed for straightening teeth, the'band ll being intended to surround the tooth to be treated and to be applied thereto inthe usual manner. To the band H is fixedly connected, by any suitable means, an anchoring stud it. This stud comprises a reduced neck l3, which is immediately afiixed to the band H in order to hold the stud It thereon, the stud I2 also including a head I4. The stud i2 is of cylindrical form, the reduced neck i3 providing a shoulder I5 at the inner end of the head M.

Extendingtransversely of the head 14, and projecting thereinto beyond the mid-point of the length of the stud i2, is agroove l6. This groove is adapted to receive the arch-bar H),- which is I introduced edgewise thereto, and said groove is substantially oblong in cross-section in order thatthe arch-bar Hi may fit therein and be prevented twisting or turning in the groove.

, Surrounding the stud i2 is a locking sleeve 11. This sleeve is cylindrical in cross-section to correspond with the general configuration of the stud 12. The sleeve ii is open at both ends, the

opening at'its inner end being of less diameter than the diameter of the opening at the outer end, and by reason of such decreased diameter at the inner end of the sleeve ll an engaging flange i8 is formed thereat, which flange surrounds the neck l3 of the stud l2 and abuts against the shoulder I5 of the stud. This provides a swivel connection between the sleeve ll and the stud l2 and permits free relative rota-v tion of the sleeve i? with respect to the'stud 12, but also will prevent outward separation of the sleeve from the stud when the two are brought into assembled relation. With the stud l2 affixed to the tooth band H the sleeve I! also is prevented separating from the reduced neck It.

At'diametrically oppositesides of the sleeve I1 the latter is provided with reversely-arranged bayonet slots I9,'these slots opening at the outer edge of the sleeve I I, and being of a width to correspond to the width of the groove I6. The slots I9, upon proper rotation of the sleeve I! with re- ,spect to the stud I2, will become aligned with the groovel6, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and when the sleeve I1 is rotated about the stud I2, so as to move the slots l9 out of alignment with the groove I6, the slots I9 will be closed, as shown in Fig. 3. In the formation of the bayonet slots I9 the offset portions thereof provide closure tongues 20 which span the ends of the groove I6, when the sleeve I1 is rotated to the proper degree about the stud I2, and thus prevent the arch-bar IIIv moving outwardly fromthe groove I6. The tongues 20 are resilient, the free ends thereof acting to spring into the ends of the groove) I6 and become positioned under the opposite wall of the groove as seen in Fig. 5, thereby preventing rotation of the which make up the hereindescribed appliance in the practical embodiment of the invention, it can be well understood by those skilled in the art that difficulty will be experienced in manipulating the operative parts when the appliance is in use. To

overcome such difiiculty, and permit the parts to V be operated with the greatest freedom and ease, awrench, such as illustratedin Figs. 6 and 'l, is employed. This wrench includes a handle shank 2| at one end of which is arranged an angularlydisposed perforated head 22. The perforation of this head is of such diameter as readily to receive the locking sleeve I'I, so as to permit the head 22 to fit thereover, as more clearly seen in Fig. 6. At opposite points at the interior of the perforated head 22 it is provided with inwardly-directed engaging projections 23. These projections 23 may be of appropriate shape adapted to fit within and be received by the open outerends ofthe bayonet slotsl 9, and when soengaged the wrench 2| may be operated to rotate the sleeve I! about the stud I2, and thereby cause the slots I9 to register or be moved out of alignment with the groove I6. I

By the use of the hereindescribed appliance, when it is desired to connect a tooth band with the arch-bar, it being assumed that the tooth band has been applied to the tooth to be treated, the wrench 2| is appliedto the sleeve I Lin the manner illustrated in Fig. 6, so that the sleeve I'I may be rotated about the stud I2 to bring the outer openends of the bayonet slots I9 into alignment with the groove .I 6. Such position of the partsis shown in Fig. 2. Thereupon, the arch-bar I0 may be introduced to the groove I6 and moved to the inner end thereof so as to contact such innerend, as shown in Fig. 4. In this position the arch-bar ID is in alignment with the offset portions of the bayonet slots I9. By applying the wrench 2| again to the sleeve IT in the manner previously described, the engaging points 23 thus being received by theopen ends of the slots I9, the operator may rotate the sleeve I'I so that the closure tongues 20 will span the ends of the groove I6, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In this position the groove I6 is. closed, and the arch-bar I0 held within the same, and thelocked relation of the parts thus established will remain untilit is desired to readjust the relation of the arch-bar with respect to thetooth under treatment. At such time the wrench 2I again is applied to the sleeve I1, the

latter then being turned inja reverse direction to the movement necessary for bringing it to its locked position, whereupon the outer open ends of the bayonet slots I9 will be brought into alignment with the groove I6, and in this position the groove I6 will be opened so as to permit the archbar ID to be moved outwardlyfrom the groove I6. In such reverse rotation of the sleeve I1, it will be apparent that the closure tongues 20 will be moved away from the arch-bar I0, thus to enable the arch-bar readily to be removed from the groove I6.

While the tooth under treatment will be held firmly to the arch-bar III in the manner described, there will be sufficient looseness of the anchorage: to the arch-bar to permit lateral movement of the anchored tooth to close the space between itself and an adjacent tooth if such movement be necessary.

In assembling the herein described device on a tooth band, it will be understood that the stud I2 is first introduced to the sleeve I1 so that the reduced neck I3 of the stud will fit, in the inner open end of the sleeve, and thereby bring the flange I8 into abutting relation with the shoulder I5 of the stud.

carried by said anchoring device, the anchoring device and the locking device being capable of With the stud and relative movement with respect to each other,

the locking device beingswiveled to the an'choring device to prevent separation therefrom, and

cooperative locking means between the anchora groove in which said arch-bar fits, and cooperative locking means between the anchoring device and the locking sleeve for holding the arch-bar in the appliance. Y

3.- In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring device carried by said tooth band and adapted to receive an arch-bar, alocking sleeve surrounding said anchoring device and capable of rotation thereon, the anchoring device having a groove in which said arch-bar fits and closure tongues carried by the locking sleeve and movable into overlapping relation with the V groove of the anchoring device for holding the arch-bar in the appliance. v

4. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring stud carried by said tooth band and provided with a transverse groove adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking sleeve surrounding said anchoring stud, a swivel connection between said sleeve and said stud permitting free rotation of the sleeve on said stud but preventing endwise separation of the locking sleevefrom said stud, and means carried by the locking sleeve and 09 operating with the groove of saidstud for holding the arch-bar in the appliance.

5. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring stud carried by said tooth band and provided with a transverse groove adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking sleeve surrounding said anchoring stud and capable of rotation thereon, means for preventing separation of the locking sleeve from said stud, the locking sleeve being provided with oppositely-disposed reversely-arranged bayonet slots cooperating with the groove of said studior holding the arch-bar in the appliance in the proper relative rotation of the sleeve with respect to said stud.

6. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an, anchoring stud carried by said tooth band and provided with a transverse groove adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking sleeve surrounding said anchoring stud, said sleeve having a flange, said stud having a shoulder with which said flange cooperates to prevent separation of the locking sleeve from said stud, and means carried by the locking sleeve and cooperating with the groove of said stud for holding the arch-bar 'in the appliance.

7. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, or an anchoring stud carried by said tooth band and provided with a transverse groove adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking sleeve surrounding said anchoring stud, said sleeve havinga flange, said stud having a reduced neck to provide a shoulder with which said flange cooperates to prevent separation of the locking sleeve from said stud, and means carried by the locking sleeve and'cooperating with the groove of said stud for holding the arch-bar in the appliance.

8. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring stud carried by said tooth band and provided with a transverse groove adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking sleeve surrounding said anchoring stud, said sleeve having a flange, said stud having a shoulder with which said flange cooperates to prevent separation of the locking sleeve from said stud, the locking sleeve being provided with oppositely-disposed reversely-arranged bayonet slots cooperating with the groove of said stud for holding the archbar in the appliance in the proper relative rotation of the sleeve with respect tosaid stud.

9. An appliance of the character described, comprising an anchoring stud, and a support therefor, the anchoring stud adjacent to said support having a reduced neck to form an annular shoulder spaced from the support, in combination with a locking device surrounding said anchoring stud and provided at its inner end with an inwardly-extending flange having engagement with the annular shoulder of the anchoring stud to hold the locking device against endwise displacement from the stud, the anchoring stud and the locking device being capable of relative rotative movement with respect to each other, and cooperative locking means between the anchoring stud and the locking device for holding an arch-bar in the appliance.

10. An appliance of the character described, comprising an anchoring stud, and a support therefor, the stud being provided with a transverse groove for receiving an arch-bar, said anchoring stud adjacent to said support also having a reduced neck to form an annular shoulder spaced from the support, in combination with a locking device surrounding said anchoring stud and provided at its inner end with an inwardlyextending flange having engagement with the annular shoulder of the anchoring stud to hold the locking device against endwise displacement from the stud, the anchoring stud and the lockmovement with respect to each other, and cooperative locking means between the anchoring stud and the locking device for holding an archbar in the appliance,

JAMES W. FORD.

ing device being capable of relative rotative 

